I think you need to find a decent mechanic. The handbrake is perfectly adequate and will lock up moving wheels when pulled up if adjusted properly. It will certainly hold a car on a steep hill. And they don't need to be cross hatched. There is an adjustment on the handbrake lever. It's a chromed, knurled knob with small holes in it. But that's more for fine adjustment. If the brakes are set up properly, you won't need to rely on the nut to carry out major adjustments. The process may be set out in the Wiki or a search on the site may produce something. It's certainly in the BBB and the Haynes Manual. That said, any decent mechanic should be able to set up the handbrake for you. The handbrake ratchet should come up 4-5 clicks, as I recall.
Lastly, you mention a 'drum.' I assume you're referring to the inside of the brake disk onto which the brake pads activate to slow the car when using the foot brake. The 230 has rear drum brakes, and a therefore completely different setup and different brake cables.